Voting machine



Jap. 28, 1969 B. L.. EVANS 3,424,376

VOTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 196e sheet of 2 fm1/v fk" 42 b I I V\ W ,au E 44 g f i 2a @"/O ctw/Za 0\ o @ma o 4DE3DE ZREPUBLICAN RAPblglCAN .A E+ 4 LINDSAY hx 1n i Z .mvn'z 2 f l' di) L s'rArEs A'r'mY.

r,- 5 E scmz Ik2241/L! l Jones l l couNcl MAN ze E. VOTE oR z l l sum1 1 dy BRovm ,l f A GREEN gt-J .//l

f f `2z 22 L40 Q F i ff," "x

i1 )N28 IIfLZ 24 24 241| I 2O 36 l 22 I 30 ze /l :Imam /4 /4w` 3 56 Ma. 48 /aLi fm* "VNEZ Q /a 1'? M62@- FIG 2 D' C B A ,64, 56N/ wf s ,2V

' f 93% #Z22 El@ 5 9, 9 7 i 6 9325? "V54 mvENToR: f \8 ,413 BERT LEROY EVANS,

g g 8 g @YZ/M010, //Mfm/ )VRIJ MM ff MW,

70 68 j L42? ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 28, 1969 B. L.. EVANS 3,424,375

VOTING MACHINE 47a? :42a (45a W4@ 42 45 FIG. @u FIG. 6b FIG. 6c

INVENTORI `Bli LEROY EVANS,

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O C 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A voting machine of the type using a manually operable vote recording means such as a stylus for recording a voters selections upon a ballot. The ballot, which includes a characteristic slot or 4the like representing the voters classification, is inserted into the machine and actuates one or more blocking dies. The voting machine is provided with a plurality of groups of openings respectively representing issues within different voter classifications and the stylus is inserted through the latter openings to record the voters selections on the ballot. The blocking dies normally block all of the openings but when the ballot is inserted, the group of openings corresponding to the voters classification is unblocked to permit selections within that group while any other group of openings representing issues outside of that voters classification is blocked to prevent selections within any such group.

The present invention relates generally to data registering systems and has special application to voting machines wherein the Voter himself, in the privacy of a voting booth makes the data selection on a ballot card, or the like, lwhich lends itself readily to tabulation on commercially available data processing equipment. Specifically, the present invention is an improvement in voting machines of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,201,038.

Voting machines must be suitable for use in both primary and general elections. When used in primary or special elections, the machine must lbe arranged such that the voter may only cast his votes for candidates of his own party. Generally, this has required either the use of separate machines for each political party involved at each `voting station, or a machine capable of locking out the vote selection on one political party after the voter has indicated that he desired to vote for the candidates in the other political party. A similar problem arises in elections where every voter may not be qualified to vote on certain issues as, for example, in the case of issues where only the owners of real property are eligible to participate. The use of separate voting machines in such special cases or primary elections is, to say the least, expensive and, particularly so, in small precincts where a relatively small number of voters are involved.

The programming of a single machine to lock out selections on which the voter is not qualified to vote is a laborious and time-consuming operation, and machines having this capability are generally complex and involve elaborate interlock arrangements which make the machines expensive. Some prior art machines include means for automatically setting up or programming the machines in response to information sensed from a prepunched card supplied to the voter. In these machines, the vote selectors which are manipulated by the voter are prevented from engaging the vote counters. This arrangement has the effect of not counting the votes or selections which the voter is not qualified to make, but has the dis* advantage of permitting the 4voter to manipulate or move the voting keys or selectors even though the votes are not counted. As a result, the voter has the illustion that he has the voting keys or selectors even though the votes are not 3,424,376 Patented Jan. 28, 1969 ICC confidence in the Whole election process may be undermined.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved data registering system in which a voter is actually prevented from making a selection on the issues on which he is not qualified.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved data registering or voting system .which is easily set up to prevent a voter from voting on issues for which he is not qualified.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved data registering or voting machine utilizing a punch card for recording selections including means for preventing the voter from making selections on the card for issues on which he is not qualified to vote.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved data registering or voting system using a single punch card for recording the voters selections while, at the same time, permitting the voter to register his selections only on issues for which he is qualified and to prevent the registration of his selections on any issues for which he is not qualified.

T he foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by the provision of a new and irnproved voting machine of the type wherein the voter uses a manual stylus to register selected data on a ballot inserted into the machine.

The voting machine includes means defining a plurality of different groups of openings, each group respectively representing the issues 'within different voter classifica tions. A plurality of independently movable blocking means are mounted in the machine, each being movable between a first position, wherein it blocks a group of openings to prevent the use of the stylus to record selections on the ballot and a second position wherein the voter may use the stylus to.record his selections on the ballot. Each of the ballots includes means characteristic of the voters classification, and the blocking means include means cooperating with said characteristic means upon insertion of the ballot in the machine for causing only the blocking means representing the classification of the voter whose ballot is inserted to occupy the second position and thereby permit the voter to record his selections only on the issues within his classification.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a top plan view of a new and improved data registering system constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 3 but illustrating the device in one of its operative positions;

FIG. ,5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 6a, 6b, and 6c are plan views of several different types of record cards used in the system of the present invention.

Referring now, more particularly, to the drawings, therein is illustrated a data registering device or voting machine constructed in accordance with the present invention and referred to generally by the numeral 10. The voting machine 10 includes an enclosure or housing 11 having a fiat, upper or top wall 12 and a plurality of downwardly extending peripheral sidewalls 14 (FIG. 2). As illustrated in FIG. 1, the top wall 12 is preferably rectangular or square and the sidewalls 14 are integrally joined therewith and, in order to close the bottom of the housing, a removable bottom wall 16 is held in place by a plurality of screws 18 which extend upwardly into lugs 14a integrally formed on the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 14. The top surface of the top wall 12 is recessed to accommodate a removable plastic wear plate or placard 20, which is held in place by a plurality of cap screws 22, as shown in FIG. 1. The placard 20 may have indicia printed thereon and is replaceable so that placards with different indicia thereon can be substituted or changed. The replaceable placard 20 and top lwall 12 of the housing 11 are formed With a plurality of spaced apart, aligned openings 24 representing various selections or candidates which the voter can choose. Preferably, the openings are arranged in a series of parallel rows, as indicated by the letters A, B, C, and D in FIG. 1, from right to left. It should Ibe `understood that any number of rows or groups of openings can be provided and the spacing between adjacent openings in each row or group can be selected as desired to provide the desired number of issues on which selections can ybe made.

Preferably, the openings 24 in the replaceable plastic placard 20 are chamfered in order to assist a voter in guiding a stylus 26 into a selected opening when making a selection. The stylus 26 includes a punch tip 26a and a handle portion 26b to facilitate manipulation by the operator or voter, and the stylus is secured to the housing 11 by a flexible cord 28 so that it will not become detached or lost.

In order to identify the holes 24 in the parallel rows A, B, C, and D, as pertaining to specific candidates or choices for the voter to make his selection, a plurality of hinged leaves or covering panels 30, 32, 34, and 36 are mounted for pivotal movement on the upper surface of the housing top wall 12. The panels may be removed from the housing and are held in place for pivoting movement thereon by a plurality of snap rings 38 `which extend through slotted tabs 40 on opposite ends of each panel. The panels 30, 32, 34, and 36 are held in a loose leaf binding arrangement and can be turned to uncover one of the rows A, B, C, and D of the openings 24.

As shown in FIG. 1, the faces of each panel are provided with printed indicia thereon indicating the oices and the candidates. As an example, the panel h-as indicia thereon pertaining to Republican candidates and, when folded toward the right, as shown, row A of the openings 24 is uncovered. The openings in row A thus represent selected oiiices and candidates of the Republican party and the printed indicia on the panel 30 is aligned opposite respective holes in row A. Thus, if the voter wishes to select Lindsay for Mayor, he inserts the stylus in the first hole in row A, but if he desires to vote for Javitz as Mayor, he inserts the stylus into the second hole. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, the machine or device is adapted to have two rows for Republican candidates (rows A and B) and two rows for Democratic candidates (rows C and D). Ilf the voter is Republican, he turns the rst leaf 30 and votes for the selected candidates in row A and he then turns the second leaf 32 to uncover row B of the openings 24, whereupon row A is again covered so that voting selection can be made only for the candidates represented by the holes in row B. I'f the voter is a Democrat, he may turn over panels 30, 32, and 34 to uncover yrow C and then turn over panel 36 to make his selections in row D.

The selections of the voter using the voting machine are permanently recorded on ballots taking the form of cards 42, 42a, and 42b which are adapted for insertion into the housing beneath the openings 24. To this end, the top wall 12 of the housing is provided with a recessed or milled out portion 12a which is slightly wider than the Width of the ballots, and the ballots are manually inserted from the upper edge of the machine (as viewed in FIG. 1) downwardly within the recessed area 12a in order to facilitate handling the ballots may be provided lwith an index or tab 43 at the Outer end and, to insure that the proper surface of the ballot always faces upwardly when the ballot is inserted a pilot hole 44 is formed in the ballot in an off-center location with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof near the outer end, as is best shown in FIGS. 6a, 6b, and 6c.

A spring biased alignment pin is mounted in the recess 12a of the housing for engagement with the pilot hole 44 on the ballot when it is fully inserted into the housing and is in proper positon lfor registering the voters selections. The alignment pin is spring biased upwardly so that after a ballot has been fully inserted into the housing, the pin extends upwardly through the pilot hole 44 to hold the ballot in the voting position. After the voter has made his selections, the ballot can be removed from the housing by pulling the ta-b end 43 until the pin 46 is no longer engaged in the pilot hole, and the ballot is then withdrawn and placed in a suitable ballot box for counting. The off-center location of the pin 46 and pilot hole 44 prevents the ballots from being held in a fully inserted position within the housing unless the ballot is facing properly.

In order to support a ballot 42 `which has been inserted into the housing so that the voter may record his selection by punching the ballot with the stylus tip 26a, an inverted U-shaped ballot support structure 48 is secured to the underside of the housing top wall 12. The support structure 48 includes a bottom wall 50 having large holes 52 aligned with the holes 24 in the top wall 12 to permit punched out portions or chips from the ballots to lfall into the housing 11 where they are stored. The support structure 48 is formed `with a pair of longitudinal sidewalls 54 and 56, having flanges 54a and 56a along the upper edges thereof abutting against the underside of the top wall 12 and fastened thereto by a number of machine screws 58. Opposite ends of the support structure are closed by a pair of end walls 60 and 62 and the end wall 60 is provided with a recess or slot 60a which is aligned with the ballot receiving recessed portion 12a to permit insertion of ballots into the structure 48. The longitudinal sidewalls 54 and 56 of the support structure are spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than the width of the ballots so that the ballots will slide smoothly when inserted.

The structure thus far described in the detailed description is like that shown in the aforementioned Patent No. 3,201,038. In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of longitudinally extending, independently movable blocking members are mounted in the support structure 48 and are supported on the bottom wall 50 for sliding movement along their respective longitudinal axes. Each of the blocking members represents or corresponds to a voter classification and, for purposes of illustration, two such members 64 and 66 are shown in FIGS. 2, 3, Vand 4, although it should be understood that the number of blocking members employed is equal to the number of different voter classifications participating in the election. Each of the blocking members is constructed of hard steel plate, or the like, and has a plurality of die holes 24 therein, which holes are arranged to lie in the parallel rows A and B on the member 64 and C and D on the member 66. The spacing between the holes in each row is equal to the spacing between the aligned holes 24 in the top wall 12 and the plastic placard 20. The members 64 and 66 are independently slida-ble along their respective longitudinal axes toward and away froml the end walls 60 and 62 and are normally urged toward the end wall 60 by a pair of independent spring biasing means 68 and 70, as is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The springs 68 and 70 may take the form of curved, flexible leaves, each of which is riveted at one end to the end wall 62. Accordingly, when a ballot has not been inserted into the structure 48, both blocking members 64 and 66 are seated against the end wall 60 and all of the holes 24 in both blocking members are out of registration or alignment with the corresponding holes 24 in the top wall 12 of the housing. When the holes 24 in the blocking or die members are out of registration with the holes 24 in the housing wall 12, as best shown in FIG. 5, the stylus tip 26a cannot be Ifully inserted into the housing through any of the holes 24. In order to move the holes 24 in either or both of the blocking members into registration with the holes 24, a ballot must be inserted into the housing. To effect such movement, each blocking member vis provided with an upstanding, ballot engaging lug or p1n 72 preferably located on the longitudinal axis of the member at the end thereof adjacent the end wall 62 of the support structure 48. If the voting machine is to be used in a general election or in an election wherein every voter is qualied to vote on the issues represented by the holes 24 in all of the rows A, B, C, and D, a lballot 4 2 with a straight end 45, like that shown in FIG. 6c,.is issued to the voter. When such a ballot 42 is fully inserted into the housing and held in place by the pin l46, in the manner previously described, the inner end 45 of the ballot engages the pins 72 on both of the blocking members 64 and 66, thereby moving the members toward the end wall 62 into a position wherein the die holes 24 are in alignment with the holes 24 in the upper wall 12 of the housing. With the holes thus aligned, a voter may make his selections by inserting the stylus tip 26a into selected ones of the holes 24 and then pushing the stylus downward to punch the ballot. The chips or disks formed when the ballot is perforated by the stylus fall downwardly through the large openings 52 and are collected in the housing 11.

The voting machine illustrated in the drawings employs two blocking members and, hence, is suitable for elections where two different classifications of voters are tto vote. For example, assume that a primary election is being conducted wherein only Democratic or Republican voters are eligible. In conducting such an election, the precinct oicials will furnish each voter with one of the ballots 42a. or lr-2b, respectively, shown in FIGS. 6a or 6b, the particular ballot furnished being dictated by the party affiliation of the voter. For example, if the voter is a Republican, he will be issued a ballot 42a, but if he is a Democrat, he will be issued a ballot 42b. One end 45a of the ballot card 42a has a notch 47a located to the left of the longitudinal center line of the ballot, while the ballot 42b has a similar notch 47b located to the right of the longitudinal center line of the ballot. The notches in the ends of the ballots i42a and 4211 are characteristic of the issues on which the voter receiving the ballot is qualified to vote. When one of the ballots 42a is inserted into the voting machine 10 and is held in place by engagement of the looking pin 46 within the pilot hole 44 of the ballot, the right-hand side of the end 45a engages the pin 72 on the movable blocking member 64 and moves the member into a position of registration so that votes or selections may be made on the issues represented in rows A and B, which, in the case of the primary election under consideration, contain all of the Republican candidates. The characteristics notch 47a in the ballot 42a permits full insertion of the ballot into the housing without engaging the pin 72 on the movable lmember 66. Therefore, the blocking member 66 remains out of a registration position so that the voter cannot punch the ballot in the areas represented by the holes in rows C and D containing the Democratic candidates. When the Democratic voter inserts a ballot 4211 fully into the voting machine, only the blocking member 66 is moved into registration and the member 64 remains out of registration so that the voter may punch the ballot for his selections under rows C and D containing the Democratic candidates but cannot register votes on the issues represented by the holes in rows A and B containing the Republican candidates. If desired, a fixed, resilient sheet 74 may be mounted in the support structure 48 to overlie the movable blocking members 64 and 66. The resilient sheet is provided with a plurality of holes or slits aligned with the 6 holes 24 in the top wall 1.2 which permit the tip 26a of the stylus to pass through the ballot and the aligned holes 24 and die holes 24. As the punch is withdrawn, the resilient sheet helps to remove any card chips which may adhere to the end of the stylus.

The data voting machine 10 of the present invention provides a simple but effective means of registering voters selections but does not require extensive programming, as is common in other, more complicated voting machines. Furthermore, the device is trouble free in operation and positively prevents a voter from making selections on issues unless he is Iqualified, so that the voter is not left with the misleading impression that he has successfully cast votes on issues not ywithin his qualications. The voters are issued ballots characteristic of their qualifications on the various issues and the characteristic ballots cooperate with the movable blocking members to permit voting only on the issues on which the voter is qualified.

Although the present invention has been described by reference to only a single embodiment thereof, it will be apparent that numerous other modications and embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art, and it is intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications and embodiments thereof.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, a voting machine, and a ballot inserted into the machine for recording selections made by a voter, said machine including a stylus and means dening a plurality of different groups of openings through which the voter may insert the stylus to record his selections on the ballot, said groups of openings respectively representing issues within the different voter classifications, the improvement which comprises a plurality of independently movable blocking means respectively representing different voter classifications, each of said blocking means being movable between a first position wherein it blocks said openings to prevent use of said stylus to record selections on the ballot, and a second position wherein the voter may use said stylus to record selections on the ballots, each of said ballots including means characteristic of the voters classication, and said blocking means including means cooperating with said characteristic means upon insertion of said ballot into said machine for causing only the blocking means representing the classification of the Ivoter whose ballot is inserted to occupy the second position thereby to permit the voter to use said stylus to record selections only on issues within his classification.

2. The voting machine of claim 1 including a plurality of biasing means, each biasing one of said blocking means into said rst position.

3. The voting machine of claim 2 wherein said ballot includes means cooperating with one of said blocking means for moving the latter against the action of one of said biasing means upon insertion of said ballot in said machine.

4. The voting machine of claim 1 wherein each of said blocking means includes a plurality of openings for receiving said stylus, said openings spaced on said blocking means to align with one of said respective groups of openings when said blocking means is in said second position.

5. In combination, a voting machine, and a ballot inserted into the machine for recording, with a stylus, selections made by a voter, said machine including a housing having means dening a plurality of groups of stylus-guiding openings respectively representing different voter classitications, a plurality of die means in said housing representing said different voter classications, each of said die means including a plurality of openings therein and being independently movable between a first position, wherein its openings are misaligned with respect to a group of opening means in said machine, and a second position, wherein its openings are aligned with respect to said group of opening means in said machine, and means operated by insertion of said ballot into said machine for moving at least one of said die means to said second position.

6. 'Ihe voting machine of claim 5 including means for independently biasing a plurality of said die means into one of said positions.

7. The voting machine of claim including means for independently biasing a plurality of said die means into said first position and wherein said last mentioned means is overcome by insertion of said ballot into said machine to move one of said die means to its second position.

8. The voting machine of claim '5, said ballot including characteristic means representing the classification of said voter, said characteristic means and said last mentioned means of said machine cooperating to permit one of said die means to occupy said second position upon insertion of said ballot in said machine.

9. In combination, a voting machine, and a ballot inserted into the machine for recording selections made by a voter, said machine including means for recording the voters selections on said ballot and means defining a plurality of difierent groups of openings for accommodating the vote recording means to permit the voter to make his selections, said groups of openings respectively representing issues within different classifications of the voter, the improvement which comprises blocking means for blocking selected groups of said openings to prevent the voter from recording on said ballot selections within groups for which the voter is not qualified by the voters classification, said blocking means being movable to different positions in a first of which all of said groups of openings are blocked to prevent recording on said ballot of any selections of the voter and in a second of which only one group of said openings is unblocked to permit the voter to record selections within that group, While any other group of openings not corresponding to the voters classification remains blocked, the unblocked groups of openings representing issues Within the voters classification, said ballot including means characteristic of the voters classification, and said blocking means including means cooperating with said characteristic means for moving the blocking means to a position corresponding to the voters classification thereby to permit the voter to record on said ballot only selections made on issues within his classification.

10. The combination defined by claim 9 which further includes biasing means normally urging said blocking means towards said :first position to block all of said openings.

11. The combination ydefined by claim 9 wherein said blocking means includes different groups of openings respectively corresponding to the groups of openings of said machine, the groups of openings in the blocking means being aligned with the respective groups of openings of said machine when said blocking means is moved to said -different positions.

12. In combination, a voting machine and a ballot inserted into the machine for recording selections made by a voter, means for recording the voters selections upon said ballot, said machine including a housing having means defining a plurality of groups of openings through which the voter makes selections by use of said vote recording means, the different groups of openings respectively representing issues within different voter classifications, blocking means movable to different positions respectively corresponding to vdifferent voter classifications, and means including the ballot for moving the blocking means to a position corresponding to the classification of the particular voter using the machine thereby to unblock the groups of openings corresponding to said classification in order to permit the voter to make selections within the latter group While any group of openings representing issues for which the voter is not qualified are blocked to prevent the voter from making selections within any such group.

13. The combination defined by claim i12 which further includes biasing means normally urging the blocking means towards a blocking position wherein all of said openings are blocked.

14. The combination defined by claim 12 wherein the blocking means includes different groups of openings respectively corresponding to the groups of openings of said machine, one of the groups of openings in the blocking means being aligned with one of the groups of openings of said machine when said blocking means is moved to one of its positions corresponding to a particular voter classification.

15. The combination defined by claim 12 wherein the blocking means comprises a plurality of dies, one for each voter classification, all of said dies being normally disposed to block all of said openings, the die corresponding to the classification of the voter using the machine being moved by said moving means to a position wherein the group of openings in said machine corresponding to that classification is unblocked in order to permitvoter selections within the latter group while the other dies remain in their normal positions to prevent selections in any groups of machine openings which do not correspond to the classification of that Voter.

16. The combination defined by claim 15 which further includes biasing means urging each of said dies towards its normal position.

17. The combination defined by claim 16 wherein the ballot incl-udes characteristic means representing the classification of the voter, each die including structure cooperating with said characteristic means to move the die corresponding to the voter classification to its unblocking position when the ballot is inserted into the machine.

18. The combination defined by claim 12 wherein the ballot includes characteristic means representing the voters classification, the blocking means including structure coacting with said characteristic means to move the blocking means to its position corresponding to that voters classification when said ballot is inserted into the machine.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,109,200 9/1914 Chapman 235--50 3,201,038 8/1965 Harris 23S- 50 3,236,445 2/1966 Shoup 23S-50 STEPHEN I. TOMSKY, Primary Examiner. 

